KES logo

German Exchange trip to Hamburg

Early on Sunday the 7th of April, 7 boys and 15 girls from KEHS set off to take part in the annual German exchange with the Gymnasium Oldenfelde in Rahlstedt, Hamburg.

Pupils were delighted to be met on arrival at the airport with bouquets of flowers, and this generous hospitality proved to be a characteristic feature of the entire duration of the trip. The students gained an insight into the German school system by attending a variety of lessons with their exchange partners. The school had also drawn up a varied programme of visits to enable the pupils to get to know Hamburg and the surrounding area more closely. These trips included a town quiz in the centre of Hamburg, where the pupils were introduced to the most famous landmarks such as the St. Michaelis Kirche, Binnenalster lake, the Town Hall and Hamburg’s famous new concert hall, the Elbphilharmonie. There was also a full-day excursion to the Baltic Sea coast where the pupils spent the morning in the old Hanseatic city of Lübeck with its charming town squares and Gothic red-brick architecture, typical of North Germany, and the delights of the marzipan Niederegger shop, marzipan being a speciality of the city of Lübeck. That afternoon, we travelled on to the seaside resort of Travemünde, where the pupils enjoyed various team games on the slightly chilly beach. Despite the fresh temperatures, the pupils enjoyed an ice-cream from the local Eisdiele on the way back to the station. 

Later in the week, the pupils returned to the centre of Hamburg to take a boat down the Elbe to the suburb of Blankenese, from where we could admire the huge container ships travelling up and down the estuary of the Elbe to and from Hamburg harbour, as well as distant views of the Elbphilharmonie. The week was rounded off with a celebration of the joint projects on German-English friendship on which the German and British pupils had worked during the course of the week, followed by a buffet of delicious homemade food prepared by the host parents. 

We are very grateful to our German partner school, the Gymnasium Oldenfelde in Hamburg, and the accompanying staff of Mrs. Putt, Frau Greiser and Dr. Blain for making it possible for our pupils to improve their German in an authentic context and gain valuable insights into German culture and everyday life. 

More Posts

Year 5 Maths Challenge Grand Final

The day was a fantastic final celebration of the Mathematical talent that exists in our young people across the city and wider region, and we are so proud to remain key hubs for bringing such talent together – we’re already excited for next year! 

Model United Nations

Beyond sharpening my public speaking and critical thinking skills, MUN left me with incredible memories and a deep appreciation for diplomacy. It was an exhilarating experience, and I can’t wait to do it all over again!

The great Easter Debate: a sweet, chaotic showdown 

If you were expecting a serious, well-structured debate at this year’s Easter debate, you were in for a surprise. What unfolded was less of a formal argument and more of a theatrical masterpiece – complete with flying chocolate, wild accusations and a speaker who somehow turned it into a human rights campaign for sugar. 

Chimera Racing’s journey to the F1 in Schools National Finals 

Managing all of this in just three weeks was no easy task – there were plenty of ups and downs, but the team’s dedication made it possible. The level of skill, commitment, and passion each person brought to their role made the challenge easier to handle, and seeing everything come together at nationals was a testament to the hard work and resilience of every team member. 

Search our site

Our Community